OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: TUESDAY, MARCH 13TH 2018- THE SON OF PERDITION

Memorise: While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12
Read: 1 John 4:1-6, Psalm 55:12-21
1 John 4:1-6
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Psalm 55:12-21
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Bible in one year: Numbers 26- 27, 2 Corinthians 10

1. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the term “son of perdition” is used as a code name reserved for the man of sin, the beast, who is also known as the Antichrist. Interestingly, in today’s memory verse, the Lord Jesus Christ also used the same name in an obvious reference to Judas Iscariot, who was one of His disciples. Jesus used this term to describe Judas Iscariot because he was an embodiment of the spirit, character and essence of the Antichrist. Just as the Antichrist will be possessed by the devil himself, so also was Judas Iscariot possessed by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9, John 13:27).
2. It is food for thought that such a person could be seated with Christ at the same supper table.
3. As it was in the time of Christ, so it is even now in the Body of Christ; which is the reason why we are warned in 1 John 4:3 that the spirit of the Antichrist is already at work.
4. Without any doubt, dangerous personalities working in the spirit of the Antichrist should be correctly identified and isolated in order to curtail their evil activities in the Body of Christ.
5. In order to achieve this, these questions come to mind: who is the son of perdition? What are his characteristics? How can he be identified and how should I relate with a person walking in this spirit? I pray that every agent of Satan hiding around you will be exposed in Jesus’ Name.
6. In the versed of Psalm 55 which read today, much is said about the characteristics of the Antichrist. Amongst other things, the Antichrist works as a rebel leader against God’s authority. He is a covenant breaker, and he wages war against those who are at peace with him without provocation. Although the words of his mouth may be smoother than butter, war is his heart.
7. The Antichrist is a smooth talker, an expert in the art of deception and pretence. Most importantly, the Psalmist reveals that a person walking in the spirit of Antichrist may not be a total stranger of an outsider (Psalm 55:12-14). Such a person may not be perceived as an enemy, because his or her hatred will be camouflaged and therefore hidden.
8. The spirit of Antichrist may operate through people we consider acquaintances. It could be someone we trust with our innermost secrets; someone we regard as a true born again child of God.
9. Judas Iscariot conformed to all these characteristics. He chose to rebel against the Lord despite his exposure to the truth. For this reason, the Lord Jesus Christ correctly identified him as the son of perdition.
10. Brethren, check to ensure that you do not share in any of these evil traits. Do not join anyone to do such things, and distance yourself from evil doers.
11. I pray that you will not become lost forever in spite of your interactions with the Lord in Jesus’ Name.

Discerning good and evil becomes easy with good relationship with God through study of His word and continuous fellowship with him through the holy spirit. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” Romans 16:17‭-‬19 The Lord will remove every trait that is ungodly from our lives in Jesus name. We are daily refreshed as we study the Open Heavens devotional. May God continually empower Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Prayer Point
Father, grant me grace to discern the workings of the spirit of the Antichrist around me.
HYMN
1. Nearer, my God, to Thee;
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
2. Though, like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
3. There let me see the sight,
An open heaven;
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise,
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

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